A backcountry skier was rescued from Colorado’s James Peak Wilderness Area on Saturday, April 25th, following a multi-agency search and rescue operation that lasted nearly eight hours.
At approximately 12:18pm, a 911 call came into the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center reporting an injured skier in the backcountry who was unable to walk out under their own power. The skier was part of a group of three.
The Sheriff’s Office quickly requested search and rescue resources and established incident command in Rollinsville alongside the Timberline Fire Protection District and Gilpin Ambulance Authority. The Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit was deployed to assist in locating the party.
Rescuers were aided by a satellite SOS message transmitted by the group, which helped teams pinpoint their location near Forest Lake. At approximately 3:49pm, members of Alpine Rescue Team made contact with the injured individual. Due to the terrain and the patient’s condition, the extraction was slow and deliberate, with the carry-out beginning around 5:51pm.
All three individuals were brought safely out of the backcountry by approximately 7:44pm. The injured skier was then transported to a hospital with assistance from the group. The incident was officially cleared at 8:02pm.
Rocky Mountain Rescue Group also provided support alongside Alpine Rescue Team, Timberline Fire Protection District, and Gilpin Ambulance Authority throughout the operation.
